FEMA Programs for Hurricane Matthew Affected Properties

Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program (UHMA)

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Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program (UHMA)

Acquisition and Demolition Overview

The acquisition and demolition, or "buyout" of a home uses FEMA funds to purchase a home and land from a willing homeowner. The homeowner is offered pre-disaster fair market value for their home as determined by a certified appraiser and appraisal process, and the home is then demolished and the land is deeded to the local government with an open space restriction. The land must remain open in perpetuity to restore or conserve natural floodplain functions.

Note: Before the homeowner receives the funds from the selling of the home, any Individual Assistance or Flood Insurance funds not used to repair the home will be deducted from the final offer made to the homeowner. Homeowners are strongly encouraged to keep any and all receipts for repairs they have made.

Eligibility

Home being acquired must meet FEMA Cost-Effective requirements. NCEM supports local governments with this determination

Local Government must be willing to keep the acquired land as open space in perpetuity

Homeowner must have clear title on the home and the land to be acquired

Required Documentation

Local officials will work with homeowners to obtain all necessary documentation for the project package to include:

North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) will be working closely with local governments on program eligibility and grant proposals to FEMA for this long-term program designed to protect lives and property from future disaster.

Elevation Overview

Structure elevation or "house raising" involves physically raising an existing structure to an elevation at the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) or higher if required by FEMA or local Ordinance. Structure elevation may be achieved through a variety of methods, including elevating on continuous foundation walls; elevating on open foundations, such as piles, piers, posts, or columns; and elevating on fill. Buildings proposed for elevation must be structurally sound and capable of being elevated safely. This program pays for the engineering to determine if the home is feasible to raise, then elevates and retrofits the foundation.

Eligibility

Structure being elevated must meet FEMA Cost-Effective requirements. NCEM suppo1ts local governments with this determination.

Structure must be found feasible for elevation

Structure and land must be owned by the applicant

Required Documentation

Local officials will work with homeowners to obtain all necessary documentation for project package to include:

** Please note that following participation in the Mitigation programs for elevation you will be required to maintain flood insurance on the mitigated structure for the remaining life of the home. **

NCEM will be working closely with local governments on program eligibility and grant proposals to FEMA for this long-term program designed to protect lives and property from future disaster.

Mitigation Reconstruction Overview

Mitigation Reconstruction or "demolish and rebuild," is the construction of an improved, code-compliant, elevated home on the same site where the existing home has been partially or completely demolished or destroyed. This option is available to those with existing homes that are not feasible for elevation due to deferred maintenance or storm damage to the foundation, flooring, or stabilizing walls of the home. The program pays for a licensed engineer to determine the necessary height of the reconstructed home, the required foundation type, and to design the new structure with appropriate wind retrofitting. The newly constructed will be no more than 110% of the footprint of the current home on the lot.

Eligibility

Project in entirety must meet FEMA Cost-Effective requirements

All eligible construction activities must be completed for under $150,000

Homeowner must own the land that the reconstructed home will be built on.

Required Documentation

Local officials will work with homeowners to obtain all necessary documentation for the project package to include:

** Please note that following participation in the Mitigation programs for Mitigation Reconstruction you will be required to maintain flood insurance on the mitigated structure for the remaining life of the home. **

NCEM will be working closely with local governments on program eligibility and grant proposals to FEMA for this long-term program designed to protect lives and property from future disaster.

Homeowner Process for the Unified Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program